Instant messaging personalization

ABSTRACT

Perception of a personalization item is enabled in an instant messaging communications session by rendering, on an instant message recipient system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least an instant message recipient and an instant message sender. An identifier that enables identification of a personalization item of an individual instant message user is obtained, and the identifier is associated with the personalization item. The personalization item is obtained independently of the message used to obtain the identifier, and the personalization item is rendered at the instant message recipient system.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.60/384,147, filed May 31, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application No.60/416,902, filed Oct. 9, 2002, both of which are incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description relates to instant messaging communications and moreparticularly to personalization of instant messaging communications.

BACKGROUND

Online service providers facilitate access to information and servicesby providing interactive User Interfaces (UIs) that help users navigateto desired resources. For example, in the case of a system forcommunicating using instant messages (IMs), a UI allows an IM sender toinvoke actions, such as establishing a communications link, through theselection of screen objects such as icons, windows, and drop-down menus.The design of a UI has a significant impact on an IM sender's onlineexperience. In particular, the icons, the windows, and the menus of a UImay be arranged to enable an IM sender to locate information andservices quickly and easily.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, perception of a personalization item is enabledin an instant messaging communications session by rendering, on aninstant message recipient system, an instant messaging application userinterface for an instant messaging communications session involving atleast an instant message recipient and an instant message sender. Anidentifier is obtained that enables identification of a personalizationitem of an individual instant message user, and the identifier isassociated with the personalization item. The personalization item isobtained independently of the message used to obtain the identifier, andthe personalization item is rendered at the instant message recipientsystem.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the individual instant message user may be the instant messagesender or the instant message recipient. The identifier may be obtainedby receiving the identifier in an instant message from the instantmessage sender system. One or more identifiers associated with one ormore personalization items for one or more instant message users at aninstant message host system may be stored, the identity of theindividual instant message user may be received at the instant messagehost system, an identifier associated with the individual instantmessage user may be accessed, and the associated identifier in a messagemay be sent from the instant message host system.

The identifier may be obtained, for example, by locating the identifierat the instant message recipient system or by retrieving the identifierfrom a remote data store. The location of the personalization item alsomay be obtained.

In one implementation, the identifier is obtained by receiving theidentifier included with an instant message. In another implementation,the identifier is obtained by receiving the identifier upon a change inthe presence state of the individual instant message user.

In one implementation, the personalization item may be provided by athird party, and may be enabled to be rendered in consideration of apayment. In another implementation, the personalization item may beconfigured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event suchas, for example, the passage of a predetermined length of time, thepassage of a predetermined date, or a predetermined number of uses. Inother implementations, a determination is made whether thepersonalization item has been banned or has expired, and if so, displayof an expired personalization item may be disallowed.

The personalization item may be obtained by determining whether thepersonalization item associated with the received identifier isavailable at the instant message recipient system, retrieving thepersonalization item from the instant message recipient system if thepersonalization item is available at the instant message recipientsystem, and requesting the personalization item from a remote source andreceiving the personalization item from the remote source at the instantmessage recipient system if the personalization item is not available atthe instant message recipient system.

In one implementation, the personalization item may be requested byidentifying the remote source. In another implementation, thepersonalization item is requested from an instant messaging host. Inanother implementation, the personalization item is requested from aninstant message sender system. In yet another implementation, thepersonalization item is requested from a third-party server, Forexample, the personalization item may be requested from a serverauthorized as a partner to an instant messaging host.

The personalization item includes a graphic, such as an icon, a sound, awallpaper capable of being rendered on an instant messaging applicationuser interface, an animation sequence, a video segment, or a customizedbinary object provided by the instant message sender. Thepersonalization item may also include a customized binary object that isuploaded by the instant message sender to a server.

In one implementation, the identifier includes an item type, a datasize, and one or more flags such as, for example, a custom item flag, anofficial item flag, a banned item flag, and a redirect to different itemflag.

The personalization item may be updated. Also, the actual format of thepersonalization item may be compared to an expected format of thepersonalization item based upon the identifier.

In another general aspect, a user interface on a display enablesperception of communications that leverage an instant messagingplatform. The user interface includes a module for rendering an instantmessaging application user interface for an instant messagingcommunications session involving at least an instant message sender andan instant message recipient. The user interface is presented at thesystem display of the instant message recipient, and also includes amodule for receiving a personalization item presented to the systemdisplay. The personalization item is associated with an individualinstant message user and corresponds to an identifier obtained by theinstant message recipient system. The identifier enables identificationof a personalization item of the individual instant message user. Theuser interface also includes a module for rendering the personalizationitem independently of the message used to obtain the identifier.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Forexample, the individual instant message user includes the instantmessage sender and the instant message recipient.

In one implementation, the personalization item is rendered upon theoccurrence of a change in the presence state of the individual instantmessage user. In another implementation, the identifier is obtained byreceiving the identifier from an instant message sender system in aninstant message.

In one implementation, the identifier is obtaining from the instantmessage host system. The instant message host system stores one or moreidentifiers associated with one or more personalization items for one ormore instant message users, the instant message host system receives theidentity of the individual instant message user, and accesses anidentifier associated with the individual instant message user.

In another implementation, the identifier is retrieved from the instantmessage recipient system. In another implementation, the identifier isretrieved from a remote data store.

The personalization item may include any of the items noted above. Thepersonalization item may be provided by a third party, and may beenabled to be rendered in consideration of a payment. Thepersonalization item also may be configured to expire upon theoccurrence of a predetermined event such as, for example, the passage ofa predetermined length of time, the passage of a predetermined date, ora predetermined number of uses.

Aspects of the IM personalization may be implemented by an apparatusand/or by a computer program stored on a computer readable medium. Thecomputer readable medium may comprise a disc, a client device, a hostdevice, and/or a propagated signal. In addition, aspects of the IMpersonalization may be implemented in a client/host context or in astandalone or offline client device. The IM personalization items may berendered in a client/host context and may be accessed or updated througha remote device in a client/host environment. The IM personalizationitems also may be rendered by the standalone/offline device and may beaccessed or updated through a remote device in a non-client/hostenvironment such as, for example, a LAN server serving an end user or amainframe serving a terminal device.

Other features will be apparent from the following description,including the drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 are block diagrams of an exemplary communications system.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts of exemplary processes that may beimplemented by systems such as those of FIGS. 1-4.

FIGS. 6-17 are illustrations of different graphical user interfaces thatmay be implemented by systems such as those of FIGS. 1-4 when executingprocesses such as those of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An IM sender may have personalization items that may be sent orotherwise made perceivable to an IM recipient. Personalization items mayrepresent a user or a characteristic of a user, and may includeuser-selectable binary objects. For example, personalization itemsinclude images such as wallpaper that is rendered in a location having acontextual placement on a user interface. The contextual placementtypically indicates an association with the user represented by thewallpaper. For example, the wallpaper may be rendered in an area wheremessages from a particular user represented by the wallpaper are sent orreceived. In one implementation, wallpaper is a chrome (i.e., border)around a dialog area on a user interface. Personalization items alsoinclude icons such as buddy icons and mini-buddy icons, sounds,animation, video clips, and emoticons (e.g., smileys).

One or more personalization items may be rendered at the IM sendersystem and/or at the IM recipient system. IM sender personalizationitems are made available to the IM recipient system by sending one ormore identifiers corresponding to the personalization items to the IMrecipient. An identifier may be associated with a single personalizationitem, or with a group of two or more personalization items. The IMrecipient system uses the identifier to identify the personalizationitem associated with the sender, and to locate perceivable contentcorresponding to the identifier. For instance, an identifier receivedfrom a sender may be used as a basis for determining if thecorresponding personalization item is available locally at the IMrecipient system, and, if so, the identifier may be used to retrieve thecorresponding personalization item. If the personalization item is notavailable locally at the IM recipient system, the IM recipient systemmay use the identifier as a basis for generating one or more requestsfor the personalization item from another location, such as an IM hostsystem or another remotely-accessible data store such as the IM sendersystem, or a remote or third-party server (e.g., a server accessiblethrough the Internet).

In another implementation, the instant message from the IM sender doesnot contain an identifier, and the IM recipient system retrieves one ormore identifiers associated with the personalization items of the IMsender. For example, the IM recipient system may retrieve theidentifiers from a remote location such as an IM host system or anotherremotely-accessible data store such as those noted above. Theidentifiers may be stored at the remote location and associated with ascreen name or other user identity. The IM recipient system may send ascreen name or other user identity to the remote location. The remotelocation associates the screen name or other user identity with thecorresponding identifiers, and sends those identifiers to the IMrecipient system. For instance, the IM host may store identifiersassociated with the screen name of an IM sender. The IM recipient systempasses the screen name of the IM sender to the IM host, and the IM hostreturns the identifiers associated with that screen name to the IMrecipient system. In another implementation, the IM host system or otherremotely accessible data store may retrieve and send the personalizationitems themselves rather than the identifiers.

In another example in which the instant message from the IM sender doesnot contain an identifier, the IM recipient system may locally store theidentifiers in association with a screen name or other user identity.The IM recipient system may then retrieve the locally-stored identifiersbased on the screen name or other user identity of the IM sender. Inanother implementation, the IM recipient system may retrieve thepersonalization items themselves rather than the identifiers.

The identifiers may be retrieved before, during, or after receipt of aninstant message from the IM sender. The identifiers may be stored at theIM recipient system, or at another location such as an IM host system oranother remotely-accessible data store such as those noted above.Alternatively, the personalization item itself may be sent by the IMsender system to the IM recipient system, with a message or through aseparate negotiation or communication, and also may be stored locally onthe IM recipient system. Upon locating or receiving the personalizationitem, the IM recipient system renders the item for perception by the IMrecipient.

In yet another implementation, IM recipient personalization items for adestination may be made available to the IM sender system by selectingone or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more personalizationitems of the IM recipient. The personalization items may be selectedmanually by the IM recipient or may be automatically selected for the IMrecipient. The identifiers may be associated with a screen name or otheridentifying information of the IM recipient. For example, theidentifiers associated with the screen name of a potential IM recipientmay be stored locally at the IM sender system, or the IM sender systemmay retrieve such identifiers from a remotely-accessible data store suchas the IM host system, the IM recipient system, or those noted above.The IM sender system uses the identifier to determine if thecorresponding personalization item is available locally at the IM sendersystem, and, if so, the IM sender system retrieves the correspondingpersonalization item. If the personalization item is not availablelocally at the IM sender system, the IM sender system requests thepersonalization item from a remotely-accessible data store, as describedabove. Alternatively, the personalization item itself may be associatedwith the IM recipient and retrieved by the IM sender system. Once the IMsender system locates or receives the one or more personalization itemsassociated with a destination recipient, the IM sender system rendersthe one or more personalization item(s) for perception by the IM sender.Thus, the personalization items of the IM recipient may be rendered tothe IM sender before correspondence is initiated or communications areestablished by the recipient and without previously having received anIM message from the IM recipient.

In another implementation, IM sender personalization items may be madeavailable to the IM sender system and rendered at the IM sender systemby selecting the identifiers corresponding to the personalization itemsof the IM sender. The personalization items may be selected manually bythe IM sender or may be automatically selected for the IM sender. Theidentifiers may be associated with a screen name or other identifyinginformation of the IM sender. For example, the identifiers may beassociated with the screen name of the IM sender and stored locally atthe IM sender system, or the IM sender system may retrieve theidentifiers associated with the screen name of the IM sender fromanother location such as the IM host system or anotherremotely-accessible data store such as those noted above. The IM sendersystem uses the identifier to determine if the correspondingpersonalization item is available locally at the IM sender system, andif so, the IM sender system retrieves the corresponding personalizationitem. If the personalization item is not available locally at the IMsender system, the IM sender system requests the personalization itemfrom a remotely-accessible data store, as described above.Alternatively, the personalization item itself may be associated withthe IM sender and retrieved by the IM sender system.

Once the IM sender system locates or receives the one or morepersonalization items associated with a destination recipient, the IMsender system renders the one or more personalization items forperception by the IM sender. Thus, the personalization items of the IMsender may be rendered to the IM sender similarly to the manner in whichthe personalization items of the IM sender are rendered to the IMrecipient. Also, the personalization items of the IM recipient may berendered to the IM recipient in the manner described for rendering thepersonalization items of the IM sender to the IM sender.

A personalization item may be rendered at any time. Typically, apersonalization item is rendered upon the occurrence of one or moreparticular events. For example, a customized sound and/or a personalizedicon or wallpaper selected by an IM sender may be made perceivable to anIM recipient during an IM conversation. In one instance, wallpaperselected by the IM sender appears on the IM recipient system when amessage is received from the IM sender or when a message is returned tothe IM sender by the IM recipient. As another example, a particularsound is played or an icon is displayed at the IM recipient system whenthe IM sender's presence state changes (e.g., when the IM sender logson, logs off, becomes inactive, or enables or disables the TMrecipient's ability to detect the IM sender's presence).

IM personalization items may be rendered for an IM sender and/or an IMrecipient at the IM sender system, the IM recipient system, or both. TheIM personalization items of the IM sender and the IM recipient may berendered at the same time or at different times. The same method may beused to render the IM personalization items of the IM sender and/or theIM recipient at the IM sender system, the IM recipient system, or both.Alternatively, different methods may be used to render these IMpersonalization items. In one implementation, an IM recipient may notchange the personalization items of an IM sender, and an IM sender maynot change the personalization items of an IM recipient. An IM sendermay choose to have different personalization items displayed fordifferent IM recipients, and an IM recipient may choose to havedifferent personalization items displayed for different IM senders. Oncea personalization item is designated by an IM sender or an IM recipient,the personalization item is typically made available for perception bythe IM recipient or the IM sender automatically. The personalizationitems may also be selected automatically for an IM sender or an IMrecipient based upon a characteristic of the IM sender or the IMrecipient.

IM personalization items may be rendered by any type of hardware,software, device, computer, computer system, equipment, component,program, application, code, storage medium, or propagated signal. In oneimplementation, the IM personalization items may be rendered in aclient/host context, and the IM personalization items may be accessed orupdated through a remote device in a client/host environment. In anotherimplementation, the IM personalization items may be implemented in astandalone or offline client context. The IM personalization items maybe rendered by the standalone/offline device and may be accessed orupdated through a remote device in a non-client/host environment suchas, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) server serving an end useror a mainframe serving a terminal device.

Typically, IM communications involve an instantaneous or nearlyinstantaneous communication between two users, where each user is ableto transmit, receive and display communicated information. Additionally,IM communications may involve the display and perception of onlinepresence information regarding other selected users (“buddies”).However, IM communications may occur in the absence of online presenceinformation. The IM communications may be machine-to-machinecommunications that occur without intervention by or communicationthrough an instant messaging server after a communication session isestablished or authentication is performed. Examples of IMcommunications exist over AIM (America Online Instant Messenger), AOL(America Online) Buddy List and Instant Messages, Yahoo Messenger, MSNMessenger, and ICQ, among others. Although discussed below primarilywith respect to IM applications, other implementations are contemplatedfor providing similar functionality in platforms and online applicationssuch as chat, e-mail, and streaming media applications.

For illustrative purposes, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of acommunications system for implementing techniques for transferringelectronic data. For brevity, several elements in the figures describedbelow are represented as monolithic entities. However, as would beunderstood by one skilled in the art, these elements each may includenumerous interconnected computers and components designed to perform aset of specified operations and/or may be dedicated to a particulargeographic region.

Referring to FIG. 1, a communications system 100 is capable ofdelivering and exchanging data between an IM sender system 105 and ahost system 110 through a communications link 115. The IM sender system105 typically includes one or more client devices 120 and/or clientcontrollers 125, and the host system 110 typically includes one or morehost devices 135 and/or host controllers 140. For example, the IM sendersystem 105 or the host system 110 may include one or moregeneral-purpose computers (e.g., personal computers), one or morespecial-purpose computers (e.g., devices specifically programmed tocommunicate with each other and/or the IM sender system 105 or the hostsystem 110), or a combination of one or more general-purpose computersand one or more special-purpose computers. The IM sender system 105 andthe host system 110 may be arranged to operate within or in concert withone or more other systems, such as, for example, one or more LANs(“Local Area Networks”) and/or one or more WANs (“Wide Area Networks”).

The client device 120 and the host device 135 are generally capable ofexecuting instructions under the command of, respectively, a clientcontroller 125 and a host controller 140. The client device 120 and thehost device 135 are connected to, respectively, the client controller125 and the host controller 140 by, respectively, wired or wireless datapathways 130 and 145, which are capable of delivering data.

The client device 120, the client controller 125, the host device 135,and the host controller 140 typically each include one or more hardwarecomponents and/or software components. An example of a client device 120or a host device 135 is a general-purpose computer (e.g., a personalcomputer) or software on such a computer capable of responding to andexecuting instructions in a defined manner. Other examples include aspecial-purpose computer, a workstation, a server, a device, acomponent, other physical or virtual equipment or some combination ofthese capable of responding to and executing instructions. The clientdevice 120 and the host device 135 may include devices that are capableof establishing peer-to-peer communications.

An example of client controller 125 or host controller 140 is a softwareapplication loaded on the client device 120 or the host device 135 forcommanding and directing communications enabled by the client device 120or the host device 135. Other examples include a program, a piece ofcode, an instruction, a device, a computer, a computer system, or acombination of these for independently or collectively instructing theclient device 120 or the host device 135 to interact and operate asdescribed. The client controller 125 and the host controller 140 may beembodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component,physical or virtual equipment, storage medium, or propagated signalcapable of providing instructions to the client device 120 and the hostdevice 135.

The communications link 115 typically includes a delivery network 160that provides direct or indirect communication between the IM sendersystem 105 and the host system 110, irrespective of physical separation.Examples of a delivery network 160 include the Internet, the World WideWeb, WANs, LANs, analog or digital wired and wireless telephone networks(e.g., Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated ServicesDigital Network (ISDN), and Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)), radio,television, cable, or satellite systems, and other delivery mechanismsfor carrying data. The communications link 115 may include communicationpathways 150 and 155 that enable communications through the one or moredelivery networks 160 described above. Each of the communicationpathways 150 and 155 may include, for example, a wired, wireless, cableor satellite communication pathway.

FIG. 2 illustrates a communications system 200 including an IM sendersystem 105 communicating with a host system 110 through a communicationslink 115.

The IM sender system 105 includes a client device 120 that typicallyincludes a general-purpose computer 270 having an internal or externalmemory 272 for storing data and programs such as an operating system 274(e.g., DOS, Windows™, Windows 95™, Windows 98™, Windows 2000™, WindowsMe™, Windows XP™, Windows NT™, OS/2, or Linux) and one or moreapplication programs. Examples of application programs include authoringapplications 276 (e.g., word processing programs, database programs,spreadsheet programs, or graphics programs) capable of generatingdocuments or other electronic content; client applications 278 (e.g.,America Online (AOL) client, CompuServe client, AOL Instant Messenger(AIM) client, interactive television (ITV) client, Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) client, or instant messaging (IM) client) capable ofcommunicating with other computer users, accessing various computerresources, and viewing, creating, or otherwise manipulating electroniccontent; and browser applications 280 (e.g., Netscape's Navigator orMicrosoft's Internet Explorer) capable of rendering standard Internetcontent and other content formatted according to standard protocols suchas the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

One or more of the application programs may be installed on the internalor external storage 272 of the general-purpose computer 270.Alternatively, in another implementation, the client controller 125 mayaccess application programs externally stored in and/or performed by oneor more device(s) external to the general-purpose computer 270.

The general-purpose computer 270 also includes a central processing unit282 (CPU) for executing instructions in response to commands from theclient controller 125, and a communication device 284 for sending andreceiving data. One example of the communication device 284 is a modem.Other examples include a transceiver, a set-top box, a communicationcard, a satellite dish, an antenna, a network adapter, or some othermechanism capable of transmitting and receiving data over thecommunications link 115 through a wired or wireless data pathway 150.The general-purpose computer 270 optionally includes a television (“TV”)tuner 286 for receiving television programming in the form of broadcast,satellite, and/or cable TV signals. The TV tuner 286 permits the clientdevice 120 to selectively and/or simultaneously display network contentreceived by communications device 284 and TV programming contentreceived by the TV tuner 286.

The general-purpose computer 270 may include an input/output interface288 that enables wired or wireless connection to various peripheraldevices 290. Examples of peripheral devices 290 include, but are notlimited to, a mouse 291, a mobile phone 292, a personal digitalassistant (PDA) 293, an MP3 player (not shown), a keyboard 294, adisplay monitor 295 with or without a touch screen input, a TV remotecontrol 296 for receiving information from and rendering information tousers, and an audiovisual input device 298.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates devices such as a mobile telephone 292, aPDA 293, and a TV remote control 296 as being peripheral with respect tothe general-purpose computer 270, in another implementation, suchdevices may themselves include the functionality of the general-purposecomputer 270 and operate as the client device 120. For example, themobile phone 292 or the PDA 293 may include computing and networkingcapabilities and function as a client device 120 by accessing thedelivery network 160 and communicating with the host system 110.Furthermore, the IM sender system 105 may include one, some or all ofthe components and devices described above.

FIG. 3 illustrates a communications system 300 including an IM sendersystem 105 communicating with an IM recipient system 305 and an IM hostsystem 310 through a communication link 115. Such a communicationssystem may be used by users of IM service providers, such as, forexample, AIM, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, and Microsoft Messenger.

In one implementation, the IM host system 310 may have characteristicssimilar to those described above with respect to the host system 110,the IM recipient system 305 may have characteristics similar to thosedescribed above with respect to the IM sender system 105, and the IMsender system 105 and the IM recipient system 305 may includecommunication software to enable users of the client systems to accessthe IM host system 310.

The IM host system 310 may support IM services irrespective of an IMsender's network or Internet access. Thus, the IM host system 310 mayallow users to send and receive IMs, regardless of whether they haveaccess to any particular ISP. The IM host system 310 also may supportassociated services, such as administrative matters, advertising,directory services, chat, and interest groups related to the IM. The IMhost system 310 has an architecture that enables the devices (e.g.,servers) within the IM host system 310 to communicate with each other.To transfer data, the IM host system 310 employs one or more standard orexclusive IM protocols.

To access the IM host system 310 to begin an IM session in theimplementation of FIG. 3, the IM sender system 105 establishes aconnection to the IM host system 310. Once a connection to the IM hostsystem 310 has been established, the IM sender system 105 may directlyor indirectly transmit data to and access content from the IM hostsystem 310. By accessing the IM host system, an IM sender can use the IMclient application to view whether particular users (“buddies”) areonline, exchange IMs with particular buddies, participate in group chatrooms, trade files such as pictures, invitations or documents, findother buddies with similar interests, get customized information such asnews and stock quotes, and search the Web. IM recipient system 305 maybe similarly manipulated to establish contemporaneous connection with IMhost system 310.

Once connectivity is established, an IM sender who is using IM sendersystem 105 may view whether an IM recipient using IM recipient system305 is online, and typically may view whether the IM recipient is ableto receive IMs. If the IM recipient is online, the IM sender mayexchange IMs with the IM recipient.

In one implementation, the IMs sent between IM sender system 105 and IMrecipient system 305 are routed through IM host system 310. In anotherimplementation, the IMs sent between IM sender system 105 and IMrecipient system 305 are routed through a third party server (notshown), and, in some cases, are also routed through IM host system 310.In yet another implementation, the IMs are sent directly between IMsender system 105 and IM recipient system 305.

FIG. 4 illustrates a communications system 400 including an IM sendersystem 105 communicating with an IM recipient system 305 and an IM hostsystem 310 through a communication link 115. System 400 illustrates apossible implementation of the communications system 300 of FIG. 3.

In system 400, the IM host system 310 includes a login server 470 forenabling access by users and routing communications between the IMsender system 105 and other elements of the TM host system 310. The TMhost system 310 also includes an TM server 490. To enable access to andfacilitate interactions with the TM host system 310, the IM sendersystem 105 and the TM recipient system 305 may include communicationsoftware, such as for example, an OSP client application and/or an TMclient application.

As described with respect to FIG. 3, the TM host system 310 may supportTM services irrespective of an IM sender's network or Internet access.Thus, the TM host system 310 may allow users to send and receive IMs,regardless of whether they have access to any particular ISP. The TMhost system 310 also may support associated services, such asadministrative matters, advertising, directory services, chat, andinterest groups related to the IM. The IM host system 310 has anarchitecture that enables the devices (e.g., servers) within the IM hostsystem 310 to communicate with each other. To transfer data, the TM hostsystem 310 employs one or more standard or exclusive IM protocols.

In one implementation, the IM sender system 105 establishes a connectionto the login server 470 in order to access the IM host system 310 andbegin an IM session. The login server 470 typically determines whetherthe particular IM sender is authorized to access the IM host system 310by verifying the TM sender's identification and password. If the IMsender is authorized to access the IM host system 310, the login server470 usually employs a hashing technique on the IM sender's screen nameto identify a particular IM server 490 within the IM host system 310 foruse during the IM sender's session. The login server 470 provides the IMsender (e.g., IM sender system 105) with the IP address of the IM server490, gives the IM sender system 105 an encrypted key, and breaks theconnection. The IM sender system 105 then uses the IP address toestablish a connection to the particular IM server 490 through thecommunications link 115, and obtains access to the IM server 490 usingthe encrypted key. Typically, the IM sender system 105 will be able toestablish an open TCP connection to the IM server 490. The IM recipientsystem 305 establishes a connection to the IM host system 310 in asimilar manner.

In one implementation, the IM sender system 105 may directly orindirectly transmit data to and access content from the IM server 490once a connection to the IM server 490 has been established. Byaccessing the IM server, an IM sender can leverage the IM clientapplication to determine whether particular users (“buddies” orpotential IM recipients) are online, exchange IMs with particularbuddies, participate in group chat rooms, trade files such as pictures,invitations or documents, find other buddies with similar interests, getcustomized news and stock quotes, and search the Web. For example an IMsender who is using IM sender system 105 may view whether a buddy usingIM recipient system 305 is online, and if so, may exchange IMs with thatbuddy. In one implementation, the IMs sent between IM sender system 105and IM recipient system 305 are routed through IM host system 310. Inanother implementation, the IMs sent between IM sender system 105 and IMrecipient system 305 are routed through a third party server (not shown)and, in some cases, are also routed through TM host system 310. In yetanother implementation, the IMs are sent directly between IM sendersystem 105 and IM recipient system 305.

In one implementation, the TM host system 310 also includes an IM senderprofile server (not shown) connected to a database (not shown) forstoring large amounts of user profile data. The user profile server maybe used to enter, retrieve, edit, manipulate, or otherwise process userprofile data. In one implementation, an IM sender's profile dataincludes, for example, the IM sender's screen name, buddy list,identified interests, and geographic location. The IM sender may enter,edit and/or delete profile data using an installed IM client applicationon the IM sender system 105 to interact with the user profile server.

Because the IM sender's data are stored in the IM host system 310, theIM sender does not have to reenter or update such information in theevent that the IM sender accesses the IM host system 310 using a new ordifferent IM sender system 105. Accordingly, when an IM sender accessesthe TM host system 310, the TM server can instruct the user profileserver to retrieve the TM sender's profile data from the database and toprovide, for example, the TM sender's buddy list to the IM server.Alternatively, user profile data may be saved locally on the TM sendersystem 105.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the IM sender system 105, the IM recipientsystem 305, and the IM host system 310 interact according to exemplaryprocedures 500A and 500B to make a personalization item selected by theIM sender perceivable to the IM recipient during an instant messagingcommunications session. The procedures 500A and 500B may be implementedby any type of hardware, software, device, computer, computer system,equipment, component, program, application, code, storage medium, orpropagated signal. Furthermore, although not shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,the IM sender system 105, the IM recipient system 305, and the IM hostsystem 310 may be directly or indirectly interconnected through known ordescribed delivery networks, examples of which are described withrespect to network 160. The procedures 500A and 500B may be implementedin a client/host context, or a standalone or offline client context. Thepersonalization item may be rendered by the standalone/offline deviceand may be accessed or updated through a remote device in anon-client/host environment such as, for example, a LAN server servingan end user or a mainframe serving a terminal device. Thus, theprocedures 500A and 500B described below may be implemented for any OSP,ISP, browser and/or other software program having a graphical userinterface, such as programs for instant messaging, chat, electronic mailand stand-alone browsers.

Procedures 500A and 500B generally involve transporting and rendering apersonalization item. While some functions of procedures 500A and 500Bmay be performed entirely by the IM sender system 105 or the IMrecipient system 305, other functions may be performed by the collectiveoperation of the IM sender system 105, the IM recipient system 305, andthe IM host system 310. For example, a personalization item may berendered entirely by the IM sender system 105. However, the UI may berendered based upon information and/or instant messages provided to theIM recipient system 305 by the IM host system 310.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in the procedure 500A, the IM sender system 105and the IM host system 310 are physically and/or logically connected(step 505). For instance, IM sender system 105 may connect to the IMhost system 310 across a network (e.g., network 160) by supplying an IMsender identification and password to a server (e.g., a login server) inorder to obtain access to the IM host system 310.

Next, the presence state change of the IM sender system 105, e.g., loginstate, is detected by the IM host system 310 (step 508). The IM hostsystem 310 may detect other presence states or state changes, such as,for example, when the IM sender signs out, is inactive for a period oftime, becomes active after having been inactive for a period of time,indicates an ability to receive instant messages, or indicates aninability to receive instant messages.

After detecting the presence state change of the IM sender system 105,the IM host system 310 may send or otherwise make accessible to other IMsystems a notification of the IM sender presence state change to otherIM systems (step 514). Sending notification of the presence state changemay include sending an identifier corresponding to a personalizationitem selected by the IM sender system 105. For example, the IM hostsystem 310 may send an identifier corresponding to a sound chosen by theIM sender system 105 for the presence state change.

In one implementation, the IM host system 310 assigns an identifier tothe personalization item. In another implementation, the system sendingthe personalization item assigns the identifier to the personalizationitem.

The identifier typically includes information allowing the correspondingpersonalization item to be located and retrieved. For example, theidentifier may include a location of the personalization item. Theidentifier also may include a type identifier that identifies thepersonalization item as, for example, an icon, an IM wallpaper, anemoticon, or a sound. The type identifier also may include a file formatof the personalization item. Also, the identifier may include one ormore flags to indicate, for example, if the personalization item is acustom item or an “official” item, has been banned, or has expired.Another flag may redirect the recipient to a different personalizationitem. The identifier may further include information concerning the sizeof the personalization item. The identifier may be in a predeterminedformat and may be of a predetermined length.

The IM recipient system 305 receives the notification from the IM hostsystem 310 (step 516). In the above example, receiving the notificationmay include receiving an identifier corresponding to a personalizationitem selected by the IM sender system 105.

Next, the IM recipient system 305 determines whether the correspondingpersonalization item is locally available (step 518). For example, theIM recipient system 305 may have stored the personalization in a localmemory or another local storage location. The IM recipient system usesthe identifier to determine whether the corresponding personalizationitem is locally available. For instance, the identifier may contain thelocation at which the corresponding personalization item is stored.

If the corresponding personalization item is available locally, the IMrecipient system retrieves the corresponding personalization item (step520) and renders the personalization item (step 530).

Otherwise, if the corresponding personalization item is not availablelocally, the IM recipient system 305 requests the correspondingpersonalization item from the IM host system 310 or a location otherwisespecified by or inferred from the identifier (step 522). That is, the IMrecipient system 305 may request the corresponding personalization itemfrom another location such as the IM sender system 105 or a remote,third party server. Requesting the corresponding personalization itemmay include sending the identifier associated with the personalizationitem to the IM host system 310 along with a request to download thepersonalization item to the IM recipient system 305.

When the IM host system 310 receives the request for a personalizationitem from the IM recipient system (step 524), and the personalizationitem is available, the IM host system 310 provides the correspondingpersonalization item to the IM recipient system (step 526). Receivingthe request may include having the IM host system 310 receive theidentifier associated with the personalization item along with a requestto download the personalization item to the IM recipient system 305.

Next, the corresponding personalization item is received by the IMrecipient system (step 528), which may save the personalization item ina memory or other storage at the local IM recipient system 305. Then,the personalization item is rendered (step 530). For example, asdiscussed below with respect to FIG. 13, the personalization items mayinclude personalization items for a buddy list UI 1300.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in procedure 500B, after the IM sender system 105connects to the IM host system 310 (step 505), the IM host system 310optionally may provide the IM sender system 105 with a personalizationitem update or notification (step 510), which generally is responsive orrelated to the detected state of the IM sender system 105. For example,if personalization items corresponding to certain identifiers havechanged or expired, the updated personalization item may be transmittedto the IM sender system 105. The update may be automatic or may berequested by the IM sender system 105.

The IM sender system 105 may receive the personalization item update ornotification when first accessing IM host system 310 (step 512), or at alater time, assuming that updates exist. Updates received by IM sendersystem 105 may be stored locally at the IM sender system 105.

Based on personalization updates received (optional steps 510 and 512)and other personalization items available, a personalization item isselected at the IM sender system 105 (step 532). As discussed below withrespect to FIGS. 6-9, 11 and 12, the selection may be made with theassistance of IM sender interfaces 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100 and 1200,and the IM sender may make the selection using a mouse or other inputdevice.

The personalization items may be selected manually by the IM sender ormay be automatically selected for the IM sender. The IM senderpersonalization items may be made available to the IM sender system andrendered at the IM sender system by selecting the identifierscorresponding to the personalization items of the IM sender. Theidentifiers may be associated with a screen name or other identifyinginformation of the IM sender. For example, the identifiers may beassociated with the screen name of the IM sender and stored locally atthe IM sender system, or the IM sender system may retrieve theidentifiers associated with the screen name of the IM sender fromanother location, such as the IM host system or anotherremotely-accessible data store.

The IM sender system uses the identifier to determine if thecorresponding personalization item is available locally at the IM sendersystem, and if so, the IM sender system retrieves the correspondingpersonalization item. If the personalization item is not availablelocally at the IM sender system, the IM sender system requests thepersonalization item from another location such as an IM host system oranother remotely-accessible data store. Alternatively, thepersonalization item itself may be associated with the IM sender andretrieved by the IM sender system. Once the IM sender system locates orreceives the personalization item, the IM sender system renders the itemfor perception by the IM sender.

Thereafter, an instant message is generated by the IM sender system 105to be sent to the IM recipient system 305 (step 534). In oneimplementation, the IM sender may generate the instant message bymanipulating a UI, such as the UI 1500 shown in FIG. 15. The UI 1500 mayinclude personalization items of the IM recipient, such as wallpaper1507 and a buddy icon 1509 of the IM recipient (“SurfinDiane”).

To make the personalization items of the IM recipient (for examplepersonalization items 1507 and 1509) available to the IM sender in UI1500, the IM sender system 105 selects the identifiers corresponding tothe personalization items (for example, 1507 and 1509) of the IMrecipient. The identifiers may be associated with a screen name or otheridentifying information of the IM recipient. For example, theidentifiers may be associated with the screen name of the IM recipientand stored locally at the IM sender system 105, or the IM sender systemmay retrieve the identifiers associated with the screen name of the IMrecipient from a remotely-accessible data store such as the IM hostsystem 310, the IM recipient system 305, or a remote or third-partyserver. As such, personalization items of the IM recipient may be madeavailable to the IM sender before the receipt by the IM sender of an IMfrom the IM recipient.

The IM sender system 105 uses the identifiers to identify thepersonalization item associated with the recipient, and to locateperceivable content corresponding to the identifier. For instance, anidentifier received from a recipient may be used as a basis fordetermining if the corresponding personalization items are availablelocally at the IM sender system, and if so, may be used to retrieve thecorresponding personalization items. If the personalization items arenot available locally at the IM sender system 105, the IM sender systemmay use the identifiers as a basis for generating one or more requestsfor the personalization items from another location such as the IM hostsystem 310 or another remotely-accessible data store, such as the IMrecipient system 305 or a remote or third-party server. Once the IMsender system 105 locates or receives the personalization items, thatsystem renders the items for perception by the IM sender.

Next, the IM sender system 105 transmits the instant message along withan identifier corresponding to each personalization item to the IM hostsystem 310 (step 536). Referring to FIG. 14, the IM sender maymanipulate a general interface actionable item 1420 to render an IMsender interface 1403. The IM sender may select the screen name of theIM recipient system, cause the IM UI to be rendered, and type themessage in a IM compose area 1410 to generate the IM. The IM sendersystem 105 includes one or more personalization items to be transportedin the instant message. The instant message may be transmitted, forexample, by selecting a send control 1415.

The IM host system 310 receives the instant message and the identifier(step 538). The IM host system 310 then may authenticate the instantmessage for security purposes (step 540)

The IM host system 310 determines whether the correspondingpersonalization item is stored at the IM host 310 (step 542). The IMhost system 310 may have stored the personalization on a server 390 orin a local memory or other local storage location. The IM host system310 uses the identifier in determining whether the correspondingpersonalization is available locally. For instance, the identifier maycontain the location at which the corresponding personalization item isstored. If the corresponding personalization item is available locallyat the IM host system 310, a format check may be performed on thepersonalization item (step 552) and the personalization item may be madeavailable to the IM recipient system 305 (step 554).

Otherwise, if the corresponding personalization item is not available atthe IM host system 310, the IM host system 310 may request thecorresponding personalization item from the IM sender system (step 544).Alternatively, the IM host system 310 may request the correspondingpersonalization item from another location, such as the IM recipientsystem 305 or a remote, third party server. Requesting the correspondingpersonalization item may include sending the identifier associated withthe personalization item to the IM sender system 105 along with arequest to download the personalization item to the IM host system 310.

The IM sender system 105 receives the request for the personalizationitem from the IM host system (step 546). Receiving the request mayinclude receiving the identifier associated with the personalizationitem along with a request to download the personalization item to the IMhost system 310.

The IM sender system 105 provides the corresponding personalization itemto the IM recipient system (step 548). The personalization item providedby the IM sender system may include a user-customized personalizationitem.

The corresponding personalization item is received by the IM host system310 and the personalization item and/or the associated identifier arestored (step 550). Storing the personalization item and/or theidentifier may include saving the personalization item and/or theidentifier in a memory or other storage at the IM host system 310.

A format check may be performed on the personalization item (step 552).The format check may include comparing the actual format of thepersonalization item to the expected format of the personalization itembased upon the identifier.

The IM host system 310 sends the IM message and the identifiercorresponding to the selected personalization item to the IM recipientsystem 305 (step 554). Because various aspects of steps 554-570 aresimilar to those discussed above with respect to steps 514-530 ofprocedure 500A, the following discussion of steps 554-570 is somewhatabbreviated.

In one implementation, the IM host system 310 assigns an identifier tothe personalization item. In another implementation, the client systemsending the personalization item assigns the identifier to thepersonalization item.

The IM recipient system 305 receives the notification from the IM hostsystem 310 (step 556). Receiving the notification includes receiving anidentifier corresponding to the personalization item selected by the IMsender system 105, as discussed above with respect to step 516.

Next, the IM recipient system 305 determines whether the correspondingpersonalization item is available locally (step 558). As discussed abovewith respect to step 518, the IM recipient system 305 may have storedthe personalization in a local memory or other local storage location.The IM recipient system 305 uses the identifier to determine whether thecorresponding personalization is available locally. For instance, theidentifier may contain the location at which the correspondingpersonalization item is stored.

If the corresponding personalization item is available locally, the IMrecipient system 305 retrieves the corresponding personalization item(step 560) and the personalization item is rendered (step 570).

Otherwise, if the corresponding personalization item is not availablelocally, the IM recipient system 305 requests the correspondingpersonalization item from the IM host system 310 (step 562).Alternatively, as discussed above with respect to step 522, the IMrecipient system 305 may request the corresponding personalization itemfrom another location, such as the IM sender system 105 or a remote,third party server. In one implementation, the personalization item maybe provided by a third party, and may be made available in considerationof a payment by the IM sender or the IM recipient. Requesting thecorresponding personalization item may include sending to the IM hostsystem 310 the identifier associated with the personalization item alongwith a request to download the personalization item to the IM recipientsystem 305.

The IM host system 310 receives the request for the personalization itemfrom the IM recipient system 305 (step 564). As discussed above withrespect to step 524, receiving the request may include receiving theidentifier associated with the personalization item along with a requestto download the personalization item to the IM recipient system 305. TheIM host system 310 provides the corresponding personalization item tothe IM recipient system 305 (step 566).

The corresponding personalization item is received by the IM recipientsystem 305 (step 568). As discussed above with respect to step 528,receiving the corresponding personalization item may include saving thepersonalization item in a memory or other storage at the local IMrecipient system 305.

Finally, the personalization item is rendered (step 570). As discussedbelow with respect to FIG. 15, the personalization item to be renderedmay include a buddy icon 1509 or IM wallpaper 1507.

The relative order of steps 505-530 with respect to other steps inprocedure 500A, and the relative order of steps 505-570 with respect toother steps in procedure 500B, and also with respect to each other, mayvary. For example, a personalization update (step 510 of FIG. 5B) may beperformed during, after, or simultaneously with sending notification ofan IM sender presence state change (step 514 of FIG. 5A). Also, certainsteps may be omitted entirely, as appropriate. For example, referring toFIG. 5A, if the IM sender has not chosen a personalization item to besent to the IM recipient system 305 upon a presence state change, thenno such item will be sent and steps 516-530 may be eliminated entirely.In another example, referring to FIG. 5B, steps 540-552 may beeliminated such that, after receiving the IM with the identifier fromthe IM sender system, the host next sends the IM with the identifier tothe TM recipient system.

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of an IM sender UI 600 for enabling an IMsender to select personalization items (e.g., at step 532). The UI 600may be presented to an IM sender of an IM service provider. In general,the UI 600 is rendered on the IM sender system 105 using software storedon the IM sender system 105. The personalization items to be selected bythe IM sender may be stored on the IM sender system 105, on the IM hostsystem 310, or on a different host system 110 such as a host system ofan authorized partner.

The UI 600 includes menu tabs 605, 635 and 640 that each have acorresponding menu to assist the IM sender with selectingpersonalization items. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the menu 605 acorresponding to menu tab 605 enables an IM sender to make selections ofpersonalization items including buddy icons 610, IM wallpaper 615, andsmiley (i.e., emoticon) themes 620. The IM sender's current selectionsof buddy icon 610 a ₁, mini buddy icon 610 a ₂, IM wallpaper 615 a, andsmiley theme 620 a are displayed. Each of these personalization itemsmay be made available to and rendered by an IM recipient during an IMconversation with the IM sender.

A control 610 b is provided for the IM sender to select a large buddyicon 610 a ₁ and/or a mini-buddy icon 610 a ₂, and a control 610 c isprovided to enable reset of the buddy icon selections back to a defaultsetting (e.g., none). Another control 615 b is provided to enableselection of IM wallpaper 615 a, and a control 615 c is provided toenable reset of the IM wallpaper selection back to a default setting.Yet another control 620 b is provided to enable a smiley theme 620 a,and a control 620 c is provided for the IM sender to reset the smileytheme selection back to a default setting.

Other controls 625 are provided for functions such as, for example,showing the names of users who are not on a buddy list, displaying atimestamp on instant messages, using an address book to automaticallysuggest screen names, displaying the buddy icons of people who sendinstant messages to the IM sender, displaying the IM wallpaper of peoplewho send instant messages to the IM sender, and displaying smileys asart. Controls 630 are provided for the IM sender to save the changesmade, apply the changes, cancel the changes, or get help.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an IM sender UI 700 for enabling an IMsender to select a buddy icon (i.e., a personalization item). The UI 700is rendered in response to user manipulation of a control 610 b (shownin FIG. 6). In the example of FIG. 7, the IM sender is presented with alist of buddy icon categories 705 and a list of subcategories 710corresponding to a selected category. When an IM sender selects acategory 705 and a subcategory 710, a window 715 displays thepersonalization items available in the selected subcategory. The IMsender may select a personalization item by, for example, using a mouseor other input device to make a selection among the availablepersonalization items displayed in the window 715. Also, an archive 720of old personalization items may be provided for IM sender selection. Inanother implementation, the IM sender may provide a custom buddy icon asa personalization item.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a UI 800 for enabling an IM sender toselect IM wallpaper. The UI 800 is rendered in response to usermanipulation of a control 615 b (shown in FIG. 6). In the example ofFIG. 8, the IM sender is presented with a list of IM wallpapercategories 805. When an IM sender selects a category 805, a window 810displays the personalization items available in the selected category.The IM sender may select a personalization item by, for example, using amouse or other input device to make a selection among the availableitems in the window 810. Also, an archive 815 of old personalizationitems may be provided for user selection. In another implementation, theIM sender may provide a custom IM wallpaper as a personalization item.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another example of a UI 900 for enabling an IMsender to select smiley themes. The UI 900 is rendered in response touser manipulation of a control 620 b (shown in FIG. 6). In the exampleof FIG. 9, the IM sender is presented with a list of smiley themecategories 905. When an IM sender selects a category 905, a window 910displays the personalization items available in the selected category.The IM sender may select a personalization item by, for example, using amouse or other input device to make the selection among the availableitems in the window 910. Also, an archive of old personalization itemsmay be provided for IM sender selection. In another implementation, theIM sender may provide a custom smiley theme as a personalization item.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a UI 1000 that may be rendered to anIM sender if the IM sender's personalization item selection is notavailable. A message 1005 may be rendered to the IM sender informing theIM sender that the item is not available, and a link 1010 may beprovided to an interface, such as one of the interfaces shown in FIGS.6-9, to allow the IM sender to select another personalization item.

FIG. 11 illustrates an instant messaging UI 1100. In the example of FIG.11, an IM sender is presented with a control bar 1105 that includes adrop down control 1110. When activated, drop down control 1110 causesthe display of a drop down menu 1115 that shows the IM sender's currentselection of smiley theme personalization items.

FIG. 12 is an example of an instant messaging UI 1200 and furtherillustrates the UI discussed above with respect to FIG. 11. In theexample of FIG. 12, the drop down control 1110, when activated, causesthe display of sub-menus 1205, 1215, 1220, and 1225. Each sub-menuenables the IM sender to select various personalization items. Forexample, sub-menu 1205, when selected, causes the display of menu 1210for enabling the IM sender to select a smiley personalization item whichmay be sent in an IM to an IM recipient.

FIG. 13 is an example of an instant messaging buddy list UI 1300 thatenables an IM sender of an instant messaging service to, among otherthings, perceive the presence state of other buddies that the IM senderhas added to a buddy list, and to send instant messages to buddies onthe buddy list. The buddy list may include personalization items such asa buddy list bar 1305, a buddy list image 1310, a buddy list backgroundimage 1315, and a buddy list fill pattern 1320. The IM sender may selectthe personalization items manually, or the personalization items may beselected automatically for the IM sender. The personalization items maybe rendered to the IM sender as described above with respect to step 532of FIG. 5B.

The buddy list bar 1305 may contain personalized links 1305 a, 1305 b,1305 c, and 1305 d to content and may have a customized appearance. Thebuddy list image 1310 and the buddy list background image 1315 may be,for example, image files. The buddy list background image 1315 may havea washed out appearance. The buddy list fill pattern 1320 may be a coloror pattern background for the buddy list, or may also be an image. Oneor more of these personalization items may be transmitted to an IMrecipient and rendered on the IM recipient system 305. The transmissionof the personalization items may occur during machine-to-machinecommunications that are not visible to the user.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a UI 1400 that may be presented to auser of an online service provider. The UI 1400 includes a toolbar 1402for quickly enabling activation of features such as, for example,reading or writing e-mail, exchanging IM messages with another user,entering chat areas with other users, shopping or accessing theinternet. The toolbar 14025 may include one or more general interfaceactionable items 1420-1460, each of which is configured to enableactivation of an associated user interface. An actionable item may be,for example, a button or a tab. For example, general actionable item1420 is configured to enable activation of associated Instant Message(IM) interface 1403. IM interface 1403 represents a distinct andconcurrent communications session. As shown in interface 1403, the IMsender is able to view a communications session with IM recipient“SurfinDiane.”

FIG. 15 illustrates one example of an IM UI 1500 that may be presentedto an IM sender of an IM service provider such as the AOL InstantMessenger (AIM) service provided by America Online. The UI 1500 isrendered in response to user manipulation of the general interface tab1420 of FIG. 14. In general, the UI 1500 is rendered on the IM sendersystem 105 using software stored on the IM sender system 105. One ormore personalization items may be provided for the UI.

The UI 1500 includes an IM display area 1505 to display the messages1505 a of an active IM session. In the example of FIG. 15, the active IMsession involves a conversation between the IM sender having a screenname of “ChattingChuck” and the IM recipient having a screen name of“SurfinDiane.” An IM compose area 1510 may be used to compose a messageto send to the IM recipient in the active IM session, typically byclicking on the send control button 1515 in the UI. A control button1520 may be provided to close the active IM session. Font and appearancecontrols may be provided on toolbar 1105 to control how the messagebeing entered in the IM compose area 1510 is displayed to the IMrecipient and in the IM display area 1505 once the message in the IMcompose area 1510 is sent. For example, the IM sender may select control1110 to choose a personalization item such as an emoticon to be sent inan IM message from the IM sender to the IM recipient. The IM sendersystem sends an identifier corresponding to the personalization item inthe IM message, and the IM recipient system retrieves the correspondingpersonalization item based on the identifier. If the personalizationitem is not stored locally at the IM recipient system, the IM recipientsystem requests the personalization item from another source, such as anIM host.

The UI 1500 includes personalization items 1507 and 1509 from the IMrecipient and personalization items 1512 and 1514 from the IM sender. Inparticular, as shown in FIG. 15, the IM recipient “SurfinDiane” hasprovided IM wallpaper 1507 and a buddy icon 1509 to the IM sender“ChattingChuck.” Typically, the IM wallpaper 1507 and the buddy icon1509 are transported from the IM recipient to the IM sender by insertingan identifier corresponding to the IM wallpaper 1507 and an identifiercorresponding to the buddy icon 1509 into an instant message from the IMrecipient to the IM sender. The IM sender system 105 receives theinstant message and the identifier, and searches for the correspondingIM wallpaper and buddy icon on the system of the IM sender. If apersonalization item is not found on the system of the IM sender, thenthe system retrieves the personalization item from a different location,such as, for example, an IM host 305. Once retrieved, the IM sendersystem renders the IM wallpaper 1507 and the buddy icon 1507.

Alternatively, personalization items 1507 and 1509 of the IM recipientmay be made available to the IM sender without having to receive aninstant message from the IM recipient. The IM sender system 105 selectsthe identifiers corresponding to the personalization items 1507 and 1509of the IM recipient. The identifiers may be associated with a screenname or other identifying information of the IM recipient. For example,the identifiers may be associated with the screen name of the IMrecipient and stored locally at the IM sender system 105, or the IMsender system may retrieve the identifiers associated with the screenname of the IM recipient from another location such as the IM hostsystem 310 or another remotely-accessible data store such as the IMrecipient system 305 or a remote or third-party server.

Also, as discussed above with respect to step 532 of FIG. 5B, thepersonalization items 1512 and 1514 of the IM sender may be rendered tothe IM sender.

The IM sender system 105 uses the identifiers to determine if thecorresponding personalization items are available locally at the IMsender system, and if so, the IM sender system retrieves thecorresponding personalization items. If the personalization items arenot available locally at the IM sender system 105, the IM sender systemrequests the personalization items from another location such as an IMhost system 310 or another remotely-accessible data store such as the IMrecipient system 305, or a remote or third-party server. Once the IMsender system 105 locates or receives the personalization items, the IMsender system renders the items on UI 1500 for perception by the IMsender.

Similarly, IM wallpaper 1512 and a buddy icon 1514 chosen by the IMsender may be rendered in UI 1500. These items are typically storedlocally on the IM sender system 105, and may be retrieved by the IMsender system 105. If an item is not stored locally, the IM sendersystem 105 may retrieve the personalization item from a differentlocation such as, for example, an IM host 310. Once retrieved, the IMsender system 305 renders the IM wallpaper 1512 and the buddy icon 1514.When the IM sender sends an instant message to IM recipient“SurfinDiane,” personalization items 1512 and 1514 are transported alongwith the IM by sending an identifier corresponding to IM wallpaper 1512and an identifier corresponding to buddy icon 1514. As described abovewith respect to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 14, the IM recipient system 305receives the instant message and the identifier, and searches for thecorresponding IM wallpaper and buddy icon on the system of the IMrecipient. If a personalization item is not found on the system of theIM recipient, then the IM recipient system 305 may retrieve thepersonalization item from a different location such as, for example, anIM host 305. Once retrieved, the IM recipient system 305 renders the IMwallpaper 1512 and the buddy icon 1514.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of an IM UI 1600, and further illustratesthe UI discussed above with respect to FIG. 15. In the example of FIG.16, a further personalization item 1605 is provided by the IM recipientto the IM sender to indicate that the IM recipient is using a mobiledevice. The personalization item 1605 is transported to the IM senderand rendered by the IM sender as described above with respect to FIGS.5A, 5B, and 15.

FIG. 17 illustrates yet another example of an IM UI 1700 that may bepresented to an IM sender of an IM service provider such as the AOLInstant Messenger (AIM) service provided by America Online. One or morepersonalization items may be provided for the IM UI. The IM sender mayselect the personalization items manually, or the personalization itemsmay be selected automatically for the IM sender. The personalizationitems may be rendered to the IM sender as described above with respectto step 532 of FIG. 5B.

In the example of FIG. 17, an IM recipient “AIMUIGIRL” may providepersonalization items 1705, 1710, 1720, and 1725 to the IM sender“AIMMUIUSER” in the manner described above with respect to FIGS. 5A, 5B,and 15. In particular, the IM recipient may provide a sidebar image1705, a background image 1710, a buddy icon 1720, and a sound 1725 tothe IM sender. The sidebar image 1705 may include images and links tocontent. The background image 1710 may include an image, and typicallyis a washed out image. The buddy icon 1720 typically is an image. Thesound 1725 may be a sound or a sequence of sounds played to the IMsender.

In one implementation, the IM recipient and/or the IM sender may pay asubscription fee to access/use certain personalization items, and thepersonalization items may be provided by a third party. In anotherimplementation, the personalization items expire and must be replacedafter a predetermined event such as a predetermined length of time,passage of a predetermined date, or a predetermined number of uses.Also, a personalization item may be banned if, for example, it is deemedto be offensive, inappropriate, or to otherwise violate a term ofservice agreement. If it is determined that the personalization item isexpired or banned, display of such a personalization item will bedisallowed and the user typically will be required to choose a differentpersonalization item.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. Forexample, one identifier could correspond to a group of personalizationitems, or a personalization item could have more than one identifier. Asa further example, although the examples above are given in an instantmessage context, other communications systems with similar attributesmay be used. For example, personalization items may be used in a chatroom or in e-mail communications. Also, the user interface may be aviewable interface, an audible interface, a tactile interface, or anycombination of these.

1. A computer implemented method for an instant messaging communicationssession, the method comprising: receiving, on an instant messagingapplication user interface of an instant message sender system, aselection of a personalization item by the instant message sender, thepersonalization item to be associated with the instant message sender;receiving, on the instant messaging application user interface of theinstant message sender system, an input of instant message text from theinstant message sender; obtaining, via the instant message sendersystem, an identifier associated with the personalization item;transmitting the instant message text and the identifier to an instantmessage recipient system; obtaining, via the instant message recipientsystem, the personalization item associated with the identifier; andrendering, on an instant messaging application graphical user interfaceof the instant message recipient system, the personalization item andthe instant message text, wherein the graphical user interface includesa graphical window in which the personalization item and instant messagetext are rendered, the graphical window being configured to enablecommunications between only two users and configured to be displayed toan instant message recipient in response to receipt of the instantmessage text and the identifier by the instant message recipient system,the graphical window including: a first displayed portion associatedwith the instant message sender, the first displayed portion including:an instant message display area structured and arranged to display theinstant message text and text of other instant messages communicatedbetween the instant message sender and the instant message recipientduring the instant messaging communications session, and a firstpersonalization portion positioned adjacent to the instant messagedisplay area, the first personalization portion including thepersonalization item; and a second displayed portion associated with theinstant message recipient and displayed below the first displayedportion, the second displayed portion including: an instant messagecompose area structured and arranged to receive an input of instantmessage text by the instant message recipient, and a secondpersonalization portion positioned adjacent to the instant messagecompose area, the second personalization portion having a visualappearance personalized to the instant message recipient based on anidentifier selected by the instant message recipient.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises: storing one or moreidentifiers associated with one or more personalization items for one ormore instant message users at an instant message host system; receivingan identity of the individual instant message sender at the instantmessage host system; and accessing the identifier associated with theindividual instant message user.
 3. The method of claim 1 in whichobtaining the identifier comprises locating the identifier on theinstant message sender system.
 4. The method of claim 1 in whichobtaining the identifier comprises retrieving the identifier from aremote data store.
 5. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining thepersonalization item comprises: determining whether the personalizationitem associated with the received identifier is available at the instantmessage recipient system; retrieving the personalization item from theinstant message recipient system if the personalization item isavailable at the instant message recipient system; and requesting thepersonalization item from a remote source and receiving thepersonalization item from the remote source at the instant messagerecipient system if the personalization item is not available at theinstant message recipient system.
 6. The method of claim 5 in whichrequesting the personalization item further comprises identifying theremote source.
 7. The method of claim 5 in which requesting thepersonalization item comprises requesting the personalization item froman instant messaging host.
 8. The method of claim 5 in which requestingthe personalization item comprises requesting the personalization itemfrom a third-party server.
 9. The method of claim 8 in which requestingthe personalization item from a third-party server comprises requestingthe personalization item from a server authorized as a partner to aninstant messaging host.
 10. The method of claim 5 in which requestingthe personalization item from a remote source comprises requesting thepersonalization item from the instant message sender system.
 11. Themethod of claim 1 in which obtaining the identifier comprises receivingthe identifier upon a change in a presence state of the individualinstant message sender.
 12. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining thepersonalization item comprises obtaining a graphic.
 13. The method ofclaim 12 in which the graphic comprises an icon.
 14. The method of claim1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtainingwallpaper capable of being rendered on the instant messaging applicationuser interface of the instant message recipient system.
 15. The methodof claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprisesobtaining an animation sequence.
 16. The method of claim 1 in whichobtaining the personalization item comprises obtaining a video segment.17. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining the personalization itemcomprises obtaining a customized binary object provided by the instantmessage sender.
 18. The method of claim 17 in which obtaining thecustomized binary object comprises obtaining a customized binary objectuploaded by the instant message sender to a server.
 19. The method ofclaim 1 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaininga personalization item provided by a third party.
 20. The method ofclaim 19 in which obtaining the personalization item comprises obtaininga personalization item enabled to be rendered in consideration of apayment.
 21. The method of claim 1 in which obtaining thepersonalization item comprises obtaining a personalization itemconfigured to expire upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. 22.The method of claim 21 in which the predetermined event comprisespassage of a predetermined length of time.
 23. The method of claim 22 inwhich the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined date.24. The method of claim 22 in which the predetermined event comprises apredetermined number of uses.
 25. The method of claim 22 furthercomprising: determining whether the personalization item has expired,and disallowing display of the personalization item if thepersonalization item has expired.
 26. The method of claim 1 in whichobtaining the identifier further comprises obtaining an identifiercomprising a location of the personalization item.
 27. The method ofclaim 26 in which the identifier further comprises an item type and adata size.
 28. The method of claim 26 wherein the identifier furthercomprises a flag.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the flag furthercomprises one or more of a custom item flag, an official item flag, abanned item flag, and a redirect to different item flag.
 30. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: determining whether the personalizationitem has been banned, and disallowing display of the personalizationitem if the personalization item has been banned.
 31. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising updating the personalization item.
 32. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising comparing an actual format of thepersonalization item to an expected format based upon the identifier.33. The method of claim 1 wherein the personalization item is obtainedand rendered irrespective of a state of the instant message sender andin response to obtaining the identifier.
 34. The method of claim 1,wherein transmitting the instant messaging text and the identifiercomprises transmitting both the instant message text and the identifierin a single instant message.
 35. The method of claim 1, whereintransmitting the instant message text and the identifier comprisestransmitting the identifier in a first instant messaging communicationand transmitting the instant message text in a second instant messagingcommunication.
 36. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messagetext and the identifier are transmitted to the instant message recipientsystem as part of the first instant message communicated to the instantmessage recipient by the instant message sender after the instantmessage sender connects to an instant messaging host system.
 37. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first displayed portion and the seconddisplayed portion are rectangular in dimensions.
 38. The method of claim37, wherein the first displayed portion comprises approximately a tophalf of the graphical window and the second displayed portion comprisesapproximately a bottom half of the graphical window.
 39. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first personalization portion comprises a firstborder at least partially surrounding the instant message display area.40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first border comprises a marginthat completely surrounds the instant message display area.
 41. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the first border including thepersonalization item includes the first border displaying a wallpaperselected by the instant message sender that covers the first border inits entirety.
 42. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstpersonalization portion comprises an icon, animation, or videopositioned to the right of the instant message display area.
 43. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second personalization portion comprisesa second border at least partially surrounding the instant messagecompose area.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the second bordercomprises a margin that completely surrounds the instant message composearea.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second border having avisual appearance personalized to the instant message recipient includesthe second border displaying wallpaper identified based on theidentifier selected by the instant message recipient, the wallpapercovering the second border in its entirety.
 46. The method of claim 1,wherein the second personalization portion comprises an icon, animation,or video positioned to the right of the instant message display area,the icon, animation, or video being selected based on the identifierselected by the instant message recipient.
 47. A computer program,stored on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:means for receiving, on an instant messaging application user interfaceof an instant message sender system, a selection of a personalizationitem by an instant message sender, the personalization item to beassociated with the instant message sender; means for receiving, on theinstant messaging application user interface of the instant messagesender system, an input of instant message text from the instant messagesender; means for obtaining, via the instant message sender system, anidentifier associated with the personalization item; means fortransmitting the instant message text and the identifier to an instantmessage recipient system; means for obtaining, via the instant messagerecipient system, the personalization item associated with theidentifier; and means for rendering, on an instant messaging applicationgraphical user interface of the instant message recipient system, thepersonalization item and the instant message text, wherein the graphicaluser interface includes a graphical window in which the personalizationitem and instant message text are rendered, the graphical window beingconfigured to enable communications between only two users andconfigured to be displayed to an instant message recipient in responseto receipt of the instant message text and the identifier by the instantmessage recipient system, the graphical window including: a firstdisplayed portion associated with the instant message sender, the firstdisplayed portion including: an instant message display area structuredand arranged to display the instant message text and text of otherinstant messages communicated between the instant message sender and theinstant message recipient during the instant messaging communicationssession, and a first personalization portion positioned adjacent to theinstant message display area, the first personalization portionincluding the personalization item; and a second displayed portionassociated with the instant message recipient and displayed below thefirst displayed portion, the second displayed portion including: aninstant message compose area structured and arranged to receive an inputof instant message text by the instant message recipient, and a secondpersonalization portion positioned adjacent to the instant messagecompose area, the second personalization portion having a visualappearance personalized to the instant message recipient based on anidentifier selected by the instant message recipient.
 48. The computerprogram of claim 47, wherein the means for transmitting the instantmessaging text and the identifier comprises means for transmitting boththe instant message text and the identifier in a single instant message.49. The computer program of claim 47, wherein the means for transmittingthe instant message text and the identifier comprises means fortransmitting the identifier in a first instant messaging communicationand means for transmitting the instant message text in a second instantmessaging communication.
 50. The computer program of claim 47, whereinthe instant message text and the identifier are transmitted to theinstant message recipient system as part of a first instant messagecommunicated to the instant message recipient by the instant messagesender after the instant message sender connects to an instant messaginghost system.
 51. A computer implemented method for an instant messagingcommunications session, the method comprising: obtaining, on an instantmessaging application user interface of an instant message sendersystem, a selection of a personalization item to be associated with aninstant message sender; receiving, on the instant message sender system,an input of instant message text from the instant message sender, theinstant message text having content that is independent of the selectionof a personalization item; transmitting the instant message text and anidentifier associated with the personalization item to an instantmessage recipient system; rendering, on an instant messaging applicationgraphical user interface of the instant message recipient system, thepersonalization item and the instant message text; and repeating thereceiving, transmitting, and rendering steps, while maintaining theselection of the personalization item, wherein the graphical userinterface includes a graphical window in which the personalization itemand instant message text are rendered, the graphical window beingconfigured to enable communications between only two users andconfigured to be displayed to an instant message recipient in responseto receipt of the instant message text and the identifier by the instantmessage recipient system, the graphical window including: a firstdisplayed portion associated with the instant message sender, the firstdisplayed portion including: an instant message display area structuredand arranged to display the instant message text and text of otherinstant messages communicated between the instant message sender and theinstant message recipient during the instant messaging communicationssession, and a first personalization portion positioned adjacent to theinstant message display area, the first personalization portionincluding the personalization item; and a second displayed portionassociated with the instant message recipient and displayed below thefirst displayed portion, the second displayed portion including: aninstant message compose area structured and arranged to receive an inputof instant message text by the instant message recipient, and a secondpersonalization portion positioned adjacent to the instant messagecompose area, the second personalization portion having a visualappearance personalized to the instant message recipient based on anidentifier selected by the instant message recipient.
 52. The method ofclaim 51, wherein transmitting the instant messaging text and theidentifier comprises transmitting both the instant message text and theidentifier in a single instant message.
 53. The method of claim 51,wherein transmitting the instant message text and the identifiercomprises transmitting the identifier in a first instant messagingcommunication and transmitting the instant message text in a secondinstant messaging communication.
 54. The method of claim 51, wherein theinstant message text and the identifier are transmitted to the instantmessage recipient system as part of the first instant messagecommunicated to the instant message recipient by the instant messagesender after the instant message sender connects to an instant messaginghost system.
 55. A computer program, stored on a computer readablemedium, the computer program comprising: means for obtaining, on aninstant messaging application user interface of an instant messagesender system, a selection of a personalization item to be associatedwith an instant message sender; means for receiving, on the instantmessage sender system, an input of instant message text from the instantmessage sender, the instant message text having content that isindependent of the selection of a personalization item; means fortransmitting the instant message text and an identifier associated withthe personalization item to an instant message recipient system; meansfor rendering, on an instant messaging application graphical userinterface of the instant message recipient system, the personalizationitem and the instant message text; and means for actuating the receivingmeans, the transmitting means, and the rendering means, whilemaintaining the selection of the personalization item, wherein thegraphical user interface includes a graphical window in which thepersonalization item and instant message text are rendered, thegraphical window being configured to enable communications between onlytwo users and configured to be displayed to an instant message recipientin response to receipt of the instant message text and the identifier bythe instant message recipient system, the graphical window including: afirst displayed portion associated with the instant message sender, thefirst displayed portion including: an instant message display areastructured and arranged to display the instant message text and text ofother instant messages communicated between the instant message senderand the instant message recipient during the instant messagingcommunications session, and a first personalization portion positionedadjacent to the instant message display area, the first personalizationportion including the personalization item; and a second displayedportion associated with the instant message recipient and displayedbelow the first displayed portion, the second displayed portionincluding: an instant message compose area structured and arranged toreceive an input of instant message text by the instant messagerecipient, and a second personalization portion positioned adjacent tothe instant message compose area, the second personalization portionhaving a visual appearance personalized to the instant message recipientbased on an identifier selected by the instant message recipient. 56.The computer program of claim 55, wherein the means for transmitting theinstant messaging text and the identifier comprises means fortransmitting both the instant message text and the identifier in asingle instant message.
 57. The computer program of claim 55, whereinthe means for transmitting the instant message text and the identifiercomprises means for transmitting the identifier in a first instantmessaging communication and means for transmitting the instant messagetext in a second instant messaging communication.
 58. The computerprogram of claim 55, wherein the instant message text and the identifierare transmitted to the instant message recipient system as part of afirst instant message communicated to the instant message recipient bythe instant message sender after the instant message sender connects toan instant messaging host system.
 59. A graphical user interfaceconfigured to display an instant messaging session between a first userand a second user, the graphical user interface comprising: a graphicalwindow configured to enable communications between only two users andconfigured to be displayed in response to receipt of an instant messagecommunicated between the first user and the second user, the graphicalwindow including: a first displayed portion associated with the firstuser, the first displayed portion having: an instant message displayarea structured and arranged to display instant messages communicatedbetween the first user and the second user during the instant messagingsession, and a first personalization portion positioned adjacent to theinstant message display area, the first personalization portion having avisual appearance personalized to the first user based on an identifierselected by the first user; and a second displayed portion associatedwith the second user and displayed below the first displayed portion,the second displayed portion having: an instant message compose areastructured and arranged to receive an input of instant message text, anda second personalization portion positioned adjacent to the instantmessage compose area, the second personalization portion having a visualappearance personalized to the second user based on an identifierselected by the second user.
 60. The graphical user interface of claim59, wherein the input of instant message text is from the second user.61. The graphical user interface of claim 59, wherein the firstpersonalization portion has a visual appearance personalized to thefirst user based on an identifier received with instant message text inan instant message received by the second user from the first user. 62.The graphical user interface of claim 61, wherein the instant message isthe first instant message communicated to the second user by the firstuser after the first user connects to an instant messaging host system.63. The graphical user interface of claim 59, wherein the firstdisplayed portion and the second displayed portion are rectangular indimensions.
 64. The graphical user interface of claim 63, wherein thefirst displayed portion comprises approximately a top half of thegraphical window and the second displayed portion comprisesapproximately a bottom half of the graphical window.
 65. The graphicaluser interface of claim 59, wherein the first personalization portioncomprises a first border at least partially surrounding the instantmessage display area.
 66. The graphical user interface of claim 65,wherein the first border comprises a margin that completely surroundsthe instant message display area.
 67. The graphical user interface ofclaim 66, wherein the first border having a visual appearancepersonalized to the instant message sender includes the first borderdisplaying a wallpaper selected by the instant message sender thatcovers the first border in its entirety.
 68. The graphical userinterface of claim 59, wherein the first personalization portioncomprises an icon, animation, or video positioned to the right of theinstant message display area, the icon, animation, or video beingselected based on the identifier selected by the instant message sender.69. The graphical user interface of claim 59, wherein the secondpersonalization portion comprises a second border at least partiallysurrounding the instant message compose area.
 70. The graphical userinterface of claim 69, wherein the second border comprises a margin thatcompletely surrounds the instant message compose area.
 71. The graphicaluser interface of claim 70, wherein the second border having a visualappearance personalized to the instant message recipient includes thesecond border displaying wallpaper identified based on the identifierselected by the instant message recipient, the wallpaper covering thesecond border in its entirety.
 72. The method of claim 59, wherein thesecond personalization portion comprises an icon, animation, or videopositioned to the right of the instant message display area, the icon,animation, or video being selected based on the identifier selected bythe instant message recipient.